The Swedish Parliament has acknowledged a petition from a group of Cambodian intellectuals urging a halt to military cooperation and the sale of Gripen fighter jets to Thailand. While the parliament's Defense Committee has confirmed it will not take any formal action, it stated that Sweden will strictly monitor the use of its exported weapons to ensure compliance with international regulations.
A Diplomatic Response
In an email to Moon Pich, a representative of the Cambodian intellectual group, the Swedish Parliament confirmed that it received the letter, which was sent to each member of the Swedish Defense Committee. The parliament defended its position, stating that the Swedish government is committed to arms control and non-proliferation. It emphasized that any use of Swedish-sold weapons must be subject to proper inspection.
Despite this firm stance, the parliament's email also clarified that it is up to individual members of parliament to decide whether to act on the request to intervene and stop the sale of fighter jets to Thailand.
A Small Victory for Cambodian Activists
Moon Pich, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, sees the parliament's response not as a defeat but as an opportunity. On his social media, he noted that the response now provides a clear path for the intellectual group to lobby individual members of the Swedish Defense Committee. He believes that if even one member of parliament supports their petition, the issue could be brought up for discussion in a formal parliamentary meeting.
The Cambodian intellectuals' petition was a direct response to a recently signed contract for the sale of four Gripen fighter jets to Thailand. Their letter expressed concern that Sweden's military cooperation with Thailand is inconsistent with its commitment to global peace and human rights, especially while the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute remains unresolved.
No comments:
Post a Comment